Systems and methods for generating preamble symbols in communication systems

ABSTRACT

A method for transmitting an 802.11ah packet is provided. A training field sequence is generated using control circuitry. A preamble for a packet is generated using the control circuitry. The preamble includes a training field symbol which includes the training field sequence. A portion of the training field sequence is within a plurality of guard tones of the training field symbol. The preamble is transmitted using transmit circuitry.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of, commonly-assigned U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/753,752, filed Jan. 30, 2013 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,480,104),which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of, and was with,commonly-assigned U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/592,432,filed Jan. 30, 2012, each of which is hereby incorporated by referenceherein in its respective entirety.

FIELD OF USE

The present disclosure relates generally to communication systems andmethods, and more particularly, to systems and methods for generatingpreamble symbols in communication systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

The background description provided herein is for the purpose ofgenerally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of theinventors hereof, to the extent the work is described in this backgroundsection, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwisequalify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly norimpliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.

The 802.11ah standard allows for wireless local access network (WLAN)ranges beyond what is provided by previous wireless standards. This isachieved by operating at sub 1-GHz bands with lower signal bandwidths.

In designing the 802.11ah standard, similar configuration parametersfrom previous wireless standards were used. This allows hardwaremanufactures to develop wireless devices which support not only the802.11ah standard, but also previous wireless standards with similarhardware.

For example, similar long training field (LTF) parameters in thepreamble symbols from the 802.11ac standard have been proposed in the802.11ah standard. However, the chosen configuration parameters maycause issues in wireless devices when decoding packets at differentsignal bandwidths supporting the 802.11ah standard. For example, incertain situations, the LTF symbol within the preamble may not provideenough information to generate channel estimations for all tones in awireless packet—such would prevent a receiver from decoding the wirelesspacket.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In accordance with an embodiment, a method for transmitting an 802.11ahpacket is provided. A training field sequence is generated using controlcircuitry. A preamble for a packet is generated using the controlcircuitry. The preamble includes a training field symbol which includesthe training field sequence. A portion of the training field sequence iswithin a plurality of guard tones of the training field symbol. Thepreamble is transmitted using transmit circuitry.

Accordingly, the method allows decoding of packets at different signalbandwidths, for example packets supporting the 802.11ah standard. Byincluding a portion of the training field sequence within guard tones ofthe training field symbol, channel estimations for the relevant tones ina wireless packet may be generated, allowing a receiver to decode thewireless packet properly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features of the disclosure, its nature and various advantageswill be apparent upon consideration of the following detaileddescription, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, and inwhich:

FIG. 1 shows an example of a wireless communications system according toan embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 shows an example of an 802.11ah packet format according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 shows an illustrative representation of tone mappings forpreamble fields within an 802.11ah packet according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 4 shows an illustrative representation of redefined tone mappingsfor preamble fields within an 802.11ah packet according to an embodimentof the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 shows an illustrative representation of redefined tone mappingsfor the loan training field within an 802.11ah packet according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 shows an example of a long training field sequence for differentsignal bandwidths according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;and

FIG. 7 shows an illustrative process for generating a preamble accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

To provide an overall understanding of the disclosure, certainillustrative embodiments will now be described. However, the systems andmethods described herein may be adapted and modified as is appropriatefor the application being addressed and that the systems and methodsdescribed herein may be employed in other suitable applications, andthat such other additions and modifications will not depart from thescope hereof.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a wireless communications system 100.Wireless communications system 100 may include a plurality of clientdevices that are interconnected to form a wireless network. For example,wireless communications system 100 may include access point station (AP)102. AP 102 may be configured to communicate with wireless stations 104a-c via wireless signals over a network 106.

Wireless stations 104 a-c may be any suitable type of wireless devicecompatible with the wireless network standard of wireless communicationssystem 100. For example, wireless stations 104 a-c may operate based ona protocol or communications standard compatible with base station 102.In some embodiments, the wireless network 106 may use the 802.11ahwireless standard protocol. The 802.11ah wireless protocol may define,for example, various wireless signal properties that allow wirelesscommunication to occur reliably over network 106.

AP 102 may send a message or packet via the network to one or multiplewireless stations 104 a-c. The packet may be in a format defined by thetransmission protocol employed by the wireless network, such as the802.11ah protocol. Encoded within the packet may be preamble symbolswhich provide channel estimation information and signaling informationto wireless stations 104 a-c. Signaling information includes parameterswhich wireless stations 104 a-c may use to decode the data sent withinthe packet. For example, the signal information may include the signalbandwidth. parameter, the encoding configuration of the packet,identification information, and modulation information. Other signalinginformation may be provided which are defined within the 802.11ahwireless standard. To decode and process the packet, wireless stations10 a-c process and decode the preamble symbols. As will be described ingreater detail below, AP 102 may include control circuitry to generatepreambles symbols sent within the packet. Wireless stations 104 a-c mayinclude control circuitry to interpret the preamble symbols of thepacket. received from AP 102. In particular, wireless stations 104 a-cmay apply the complementary techniques used by AP 102 to process anddecode the preamble symbols within the packet. In some embodiments,wireless stations 104 a-c may send packets including preamble symbolssimilar to that of AP 102 to AP 102 using a similar technique.

FIG. 2 shows an example of an 802.11ah packet format 200. As shown,various symbols, also known as fields are sent within an 802.11ahpacket. These fields include short training field (STF) 202, signalingfield (SIG) 206, long training fields (LTF) 208 and 212, and the datafield 214.

STF 202 symbols are generated by AP 102 and provide synchronizationinformation to wireless stations 104 a-c which receive the packet.Synchronization information provides the wireless stations 104 a-c withinformation for syncing a wireless station with AP 102 and otherwireless stations 104 a-c. ULF 208 symbols are generated by AP 102 andprovide channel estimation information to wireless stations 104 a-cwhich receive the packet. Channel estimation information provides thewireless stations 104 a-c with characteristics of network 106, allowingwireless stations 104 a-c to properly decode the packet. For example,wireless stations 104 a-c may use the determined channel estimationinformation to demodulate and decode the received packet sent by AP 102.

SIG symbol 206 is also generated by AP 102 and provides configurationparameters of the packet sent by AP 102. These configuration parametersare defined by the 802.11ah standard and include information such as thetype of modulation used, the error correction encoding used, the signalbandwidth, and the number of streams allocated to wireless stations 104a-c. Other parameters may be included which are defined within the802.11ah standard. After the SIG symbol 206 is processed and decoded bywireless stations 104 a-c, the packet sent by AP 102 may be decoded bywireless stations 104 a-c.

In order to decode SIG symbol 206 information, wireless stations 104 a-cuses the channel estimation information determined from LTF symbols 208.For example, wireless stations 104 a-c decode subcarriers or toneswithin LTF symbol 208 and determine the channel characteristic on eachtone occupied by the LTF symbol. Each tone decoded within the LTF symbol208 may correspond to a tone within the SIG symbol 206. Using thechannel estimation information determined from the LTF symbol 208 for aspecific tone, a corresponding tone within the SIG symbol 206 may bedecoded. If the LTF does not provide channel estimation information fora corresponding tone within the SIG symbol 206, the SIG symbol 206 maynot be properly decoded, and the packet itself will not be decodedproperly, since information required for decoding the packet iscontained within the SIG symbol 206.

FIG. 3 shows an illustrative representation of tone mappings forpreamble fields within an 802.11ah packet. Shown in FIG. 3 are tonemappings for two supported signals bandwidths for the 802.11ah protocol:2 MHz and 4 MHz. The 802.11ah protocol supports many other signalbandwidths, such as 8 MHz and 16 MHz, and the two are just shown as anexample.

The tone mapping 302 of the LTF symbol is shown in FIG. 3 for the 2 MHzsignal bandwidth. The LTF symbol tones 304 span from tones −28 to −1 and1 to 28. These LTF symbol tones allow for proper decoding of the SIG andDATA symbols within the packet at corresponding tone locations in each.For example, the tone mapping 308 of the SIG symbol for the 2 MHz signalbandwidth is also shown. The tones in SIG symbols also span tones −28 to−1 and 1 to 28. Since channel estimation information may be determinedfor these tones, the corresponding tones in the SIG and DATA symbols maybe properly decoded using the channel estimation information from thetones in the LTF symbol.

As proposed in the 802.11ah protocol, wireless stations 104 operating atsignal bandwidths greater than a baseline signal bandwidth should atleast be able to process and decode the SIG symbol 206 at the baselinesignal bandwidth in the control channel. For example, wireless stations104 a-c operating at either a 4 MHz, 8 MHz, or 16 MHz signal bandwidthshould be able to decode the 2 MHz SIG symbol in the control channel. Asanother example, wireless stations 104 a-c operating at either a 2 MHz,4 MHz, 8 MHz, or 16 MHz signal bandwidth should be able to decode the 1MHz SIG symbol in the control channel. Because of this requirement, theSIG symbol for higher signal bandwidths, such as 4 MHz, 8 MHz, and 16MHz, may be generated by repeating and phase rotating instances of the 2MHz signal bandwidth SIG symbol over each 2 MHz sub-band of the highersignal bandwidths.

The repetition of the 2 MHZ SIG symbol across the higher signalbandwidths may cause decoding issues. Based on the repetition of the 2MHz SIG symbol, the SIG symbol of higher signal bandwidths contain tonesoutside of the tones of the LTF symbol for the higher signal bandwidths.Because the SIG symbol and the LTF symbol require corresponding tonesfor proper decoding and processing of the SIG symbol, the SIG symboltones outside of the tones of the LTF symbol may not have channelestimation information, and will not be decoded correctly. For example,the LTF symbol tone mapping 322 for the 4 MHz bandwidth signal allowsfor channel estimation tones 324 to be determined for tones −58 to −2and 2 to 58. However, as seen in the SIC symbol tone mapping 328 for the4 MHz bandwidth signal, the SIC symbol tones 330 extend to tones −60,−59, 59, and 60. These extended tones have no corresponding tone in theLTF symbol, which prevents wireless stations 104 a-c from estimating thechannel on these tones, a result of which the SIG symbol cannot beproperly decoded. These extended tones may be present in signalbandwidths greater than 2 MHz. Therefore, a wireless station operatingat a 4 MHz, 8 MHz, or 16 MHz signal bandwidth may not be able to decodethe SIG symbol within the packet based on an implementation of the802.11ah protocol.

FIG. 4 shows an illustrative representation of redefined tone mappingsfor preamble fields within an 802.11ah packet. In some embodiments, theSIG symbol decoding problem may be addressed by redefining the SICsymbol field. By reducing the number of SIG field information bits, thenumber of tones which the SIC symbol spans can also be reduced. Forexample, tone mapping 302 for LTF symbol tones 304 at the 2 MHzbandwidth is kept to span tones −28 to −1 and 1 to 28, the same asdescribed in FIG. 3. However, tone mapping 408 for the SIG symbol at 2MHZ signal bandwidth is redefined to span SIG tones 410 from tones −26to −1 and 1 to 26. Reducing the number of tones 310 in the SIG symbol408 for the 2 MHz signal bandwidth may not effect the decoding of theSIG symbol because the SIC symbol still has corresponding tones in theLTF symbol. This technique requires only changes to the SIG symbol andnot to the LTF symbol.

For signal bandwidths greater than 2 MHz, the 2 MHz SIG symbol 408 isrepeated and phase rotated over each 2 MHz sub-band of the signalbandwidth. Because the number of tones used in SIG symbol 408 for the 2MHz signal bandwidth is reduced, the SIG symbol tones in signalbandwidths greater than 2 MHz are bounded by the tone mapping for theLTF symbol, allowing for correct decoding of the SIG symbol at signalbandwidths greater than 2 MHz. For example, tone mapping 428 for the SIGsymbol 430, at a signal bandwidth of 4 MHz, extends only up to tones −58and 58. The SIG symbol tones 430 are have corresponding tones in thetone mapping 322 for LTF symbol 324. Therefore the problem of SIG symboltones, such as SIG symbol tones 330, extending past LTF symbol tones 324does not occur, and channel estimation information may be determined foreach SIG tone 430 in the SIG symbol.

In some embodiments, the SIG field bits corresponding to the reservebits and identification information, such as the Partial AssociationIdentification (PAID) may be selected as the bits to reduce. PAID bitsare used to determine which wireless station is the recipient of thesent packet. Other field bits contained within the SIG symbol accordingto the 802.11ah standard may be reduced in order to reduce the number ofSIG field bits.

FIG. 5 shows an illustrative representation of redefined tone mappingsfor the LTF symbol within an 802.11ah packet. In some embodiments, theSIG symbol decoding problem may be addressed by redefining the first LTFsymbol 522 that is sent in the preamble of an 802.11ah packet 200. Forexample, the number of tones 524 for the first LTF symbol 522 may beincreased to add additional tones on both edges of the symbol. Byincreasing the number of tones in the first LTF symbol 522, the SIGsymbol 328 does not have to be changed and may be decoded correctly.Each tone 330 in the SIG symbol 328 may have a corresponding tone 524 inthe LTF symbol 522, and channel estimation information may be determinedfor each tone 330 in the SIG symbol 328, allowing the SIG symbol 328 tobe decoded correctly. Since only the first LTF symbol 522 is required todecode the SIG symbol 328, subsequent LTFs 532 within the packet maystill maintain the previous tone mappings 534 (e.g. LTF_2-LTF_N).

The additional number of tones in the first LTF symbol 522 may cause apower difference compared to subsequent LTF symbols 532 within thepacket. The power difference needs to be resolved between the LTFs inorder for properly determine channel estimation information required todecode she DATA symbols 214 within she packet.

In some embodiments, the same time domain power may be maintained acrossall LTF symbols within a packet. In this case, each LTF is transmittedwith the same total transmit power distributed across all the tones ineach LTF. As a result, the tones in the first LTF 206 will have a lowerpower per for compared to that in subsequent LTFs 212 because the firstLTF 206 has an additional number of tones in order to decode the SIGsymbol 208. In order to compensate for the lower power per tone in thefirst LTF symbol 206, compensation circuitry within wireless stations104 a-c may be configured to scale the tones of the first LTF symbol 206by a predetermined amount to match the power per tone of the subsequentLTFs 212. The predetermined amount of scaling that is done on the tones524 of the first LTF symbol 206 may be based on the signal bandwidthwhich the packet was sent in.

In some embodiments, the same frequency domain power per tone may bemaintained across all LTF symbols within a packet. In this case, thetones of the first LTF symbol are scaled up to have the same power pertone as the subsequent LTF symbols. AP 102 may include transmitcompensation circuitry configured to determine the amount of power eachtone within the first LTF symbol needs to be scaled up by in order tomatch the same power per tone as the subsequent LTFs within the packet.Then the transmit compensation circuitry may scale up the tones of thefirst LTF symbol by the determined power scale value and ensure thateach tone has the same power per tone throughout all the LTF symbolswithin the packet.

In some embodiments, the tone mappings in subsequent LTFs within thesame packet may also include the additional tones similar to that of thefirst LTF symbol. This would make the power per tone the same for allthe LTF symbols within a packet and require no further scaling to beperformed during transmission from an AP 102 or during decoding atwireless stations 104 a-c.

FIG. 6 shows an example of LTF sequences for different signalbandwidths. As discussed, before, for signal bandwidths greater than 2MHz, the 2 MHz SIG symbol 408 is repeated and phase rotated over each 2MHz sub-band of the signal bandwidth. Since the 2 MHz SIG symbol isrepeated across multiple sub-bands, a single LTF sequence may be used,rather than a different LTF sequence for each signal bandwidth. In someembodiments, the LTF symbol at signal bandwidths greater than 2 MHz maybe composed of repetitions of the LTF symbol at 2 MHz.

In certain cases, tones within the DATA symbols may not havecorresponding tones in the LTF symbol composed of repetitions of the 2MHz LTF. By filling the LTF symbol with predetermined tone values atthese locations, all the tones in the DATA symbols will, havecorresponding tones in the LTF symbol. Channel estimation informationmay be determined from the LTF symbol and the DATA symbol may beprocessed correctly.

As shown in FIG. 6, two example LTF sequences, LTF_(left) 602 andLTF_(right) 604, are used to generate the LTF symbols for each signalbandwidth. The LTF symbol sequence 606 for 2 MHz is shown, which is usedon the LTF sequences in the 802.11ac protocol.

However, based on the 802.11ac protocol, the LTF symbol sequence 608 for4 MHz is not composed of repetitions of the LTF symbol at 2 MHz. Insteadonly a portion 607 of the LTF symbol at 2 MHz is repeated across the LTFsymbol 608 at 4 MHz. This means that the different LTF sequences arerequired to support the 2 MHz signal bandwidth and signal bandwidthsgreater than 2 MHz.

In order to use one LTF sequence across all signal bandwidths, a new LTFsequence should be used. Instead of using portion 607 of the LTF symbolat 2 MHz, the LTF symbol 610 at 4 MHz may be composed of repetitions ofthe LTF symbol 606 at 2 MHz. The location that the 2 MHz LTF sequence ispositioned in the LTF Symbol at 4 MHz allows the SIG symbols to use theexact same LTF symbol for decoding. This allows a single LTF symbolsequence to be used across all the signal bandwidths. The tones in theLTF symbol in between the repetitions of the 2 MHz LTF Sequence may befilled with any arbitrary permutation of 1 and −1. Similarly, LTFsymbols for signal bandwidths greater than 4 MHz may be composed in asimilar fashion at the LTF symbol at 4 MHz.

FIG. 7 shows an illustrative process for generating a preamble. At 702,a LTF sequence is generated by control circuitry. The LTF sequence isbased on the signal bandwidth which the packet is being sent over. At704, the preamble is generated which includes a LTF symbol. The LTFsymbol is based on the generated LTF sequence. Depending on what signalbandwidth is used, the LTF symbol may be generated based on repetitionsof the LTF sequence. These repetitions may also be phase rotated withinthe LTF symbol. For example, a 4 MHz LTF symbol may be generated basedon repetitions of a baseline bandwidth LTF symbol, such as the 2 MHz LTFsymbol.

In some embodiments, the portions of the LTF sequence are positionedwithin the guard tones of the LTF symbol. Guard tones are the tones atthe edge of the LTF symbol which are reserved for adjacent channelseparation. Guard one are generated by sending values of zero at a tonelocation. By setting a non-zero value at guard tone locations, channelestimation information may be determined for those tone locations whichmay aid in decoding the SIG symbol. By extending the LTF sequence intothe guard symbol, channel estimation information may be determined forthe tones within the guard tones.

In some embodiments, the LTF sequence values within the guard one areselected as non-zero values, such as values of 1 and −1. In someembodiments, the LTF sequence may extend into guard tones on both endsof the LTF symbol.

At 706, the preamble is transmitted within a wireless packet from the AP102 to wireless stations 104 a-c using transmit circuitry. Transmitcircuitry may scale the power of each tone sent within the LTF symbol.Since, additional tones are added to the LTF symbol, which arepositioned in the guard tones, the power per tone decreases. Since thetotal transmit power may be fixed, the power per tone decreases as moretones are added. In order to compensate for this decrease, the transmitcircuitry may determine a scaling factor based on the power per tone ofanother LTF symbol which does not have tones within its guard tones. Thetransmit circuitry may then apply this scaling factor to the tones ofthe LTF symbol.

The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of thisdisclosure and various modifications can be made without departing fromthe scope of the present disclosure. For example, although controlcircuitry and transmit circuitry are described with respect to an AP102, wireless stations 104 a-c may be configured to receive the preamblegenerated by AP 102. The LTF symbol 206 within the preamble sent by theAP 102 may be configured to decode LTF and SIG symbols generated in amanner as disclosed in the present disclosure.

Moreover, further aspects of the present disclosure relate to one ormore of the following clauses. In an aspect of the present disclosure, amethod for transmitting an 802.11ah packet may be provided. The methodmay include generating a training field sequence, and generating apreamble for a packet using control, circuitry. The preamble includes atraining field symbol, which includes the training field sequence. Aportion of the training field sequence may be within a plurality ofguard tones of the training field symbol. The preamble may betransmitted using transmit circuitry.

In some implementations, a portion of the training field sequence withinthe plurality of guard tones of the training field symbol may benon-zero. In some implementations, a portion of the training fieldsequence within the plurality of guard tones of the training fieldsymbol may be at both ends of the training field sequence within guardtones at both ends of the training field symbol. In someimplementations, the training field sequence is based on repetitions ofa training field sequence substationally similar to that of a baselinebandwidth. The training field sequence of the baseline bandwidth mayinclude a bit sequence of {1, 1, LTF_(left), 0, LTF_(right), −1, −1,wherein LTF_(left) and LTF_(right) are predetermined training field bitsequences. The baseline bandwidth may be 2 MHz. Generating the preamblefor the packet may include generating the preamble for a bandwidthgreater than the baseline bandwidth. In some implementations, thetraining field symbol may be a first training field symbol, andtransmitting the preamble includes transmitting the first training fieldsymbol with the same frequency domain power per tone as a secondtraining field symbol. The first and second training field symbol may bewithin the same packet. The second training field symbol may include atraining field sequence bounded by guard tones of the second trainingfield symbol.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a system for transmittingan 802.11ah packet may be provided. The system may include preamblecircuitry configured to generate a training field sequence, generate apreamble for a packet. The preamble includes a training field symbol,which includes the training field sequence. A portion of the trainingfield sequence is within a plurality of guard tones of the trainingfield symbol. The preamble is provided for transmission.

In some implementations, a portion of the training field sequence withinthe plurality of guard tones of the training field symbol may benon-zero. In some implementations, a portion of the training fieldsequence within the plurality of guard tones of the training fieldsymbol may be at both ends of the training field sequence within guardtones at both ends of the training field symbol. In someimplementations, the training field sequence is based on repetitions ofa training field sequence substationally similar to that of a baselinebandwidth. The training field sequence of the baseline bandwidth mayinclude a bit sequence of {1, 1, LTF_(left), 0, LTF_(right), −1, −1,wherein LTF_(left) and LTF_(right) are predetermined training field bitsequences. The baseline bandwidth may be 2 MHz. The preamble circuitrymay be configured to generate the preamble for a bandwidth greater thanthe baseline bandwidth. In some implementations, the training fieldsymbol may be a first training field symbol, and the system includestransmit circuitry configured to transmit the first training fieldsymbol with the same frequency domain power per tone as a secondtraining field symbol. The first and second training field symbol may bewithin the same packet. The second training field symbol may include atraining field sequence bounded by guard tones of the second trainingfield symbol.

The above described embodiments of the present disclosure are presented.for purposes of illustration and not of limitation, and the presentdisclosure is limited only by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for transmitting a wireless packet, themethod comprising: generating, using control circuitry, a signalingfield including parameters for decoding the wireless packet for a firstbandwidth, wherein the signaling field sequence has a first number countof tones that is less than a number count of tones in a training fieldsequence that includes channel estimation information; generating, usingthe control circuitry, a signaling field sequence, for a secondbandwidth, that is a multiple of the first bandwidth, by transmittingthe signaling field sequence for the first bandwidth in each of aplurality of sub-bands, wherein generating the signaling field sequencefor the second bandwidth comprises generating a copy of the signalingfield sequence for the first bandwidth, phase rotating the copy ofsignaling field sequence and transmitting the phase-rotated copy of thesignaling field sequence in each of the plurality of sub-bands;generating, using the control circuitry, a preamble for a packet,wherein the preamble comprises the training field sequence and thesignaling field sequence for the second bandwidth, and wherein thetraining field sequence for the first bandwidth is scaled to have a samepower per tone as the training field sequence for the second bandwidth;and transmitting, using transmit circuitry, the preamble.
 2. The methodof claim 1, wherein generating a copy of the signaling field sequencefor the first bandwidth, phase rotating the copy of signaling fieldsequence and transmitting the phase-rotated copy of the signaling fieldsequence in each of the plurality of sub-bands causes tones in thesignaling field sequence for the second bandwidth, that is a multiple ofthe first bandwidth, to increase in number count from the first numbercount of tones to a second number count of tones that is larger than thefirst number count.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein generating asignaling field sequence comprises generating a number count of tonesproviding configuration parameters of the wireless packet.
 4. The methodof claim 3, wherein generating a signaling field sequence for a secondbandwidth comprises generating a second number count of tones in thesignaling field sequence, wherein the second number count of tones isequal to the number count of tones in the training field sequence. 5.The method of claim 3, wherein generating a signaling field sequence fora second bandwidth comprises generating the second number count of tonesin the signaling field sequence, wherein the second number count oftones is less than the number count of tones in the training fieldsequence.
 6. The method of claim 3, wherein generating a signaling fieldsequence for a second bandwidth comprises generating the second numbercount of tones such that each tone in the signaling field sequence forthe second bandwidth has a corresponding tone among the number count oftones in the training field sequence.
 7. The method of claim 1, whereingenerating a signaling field sequence for the second bandwidth furthercomprises identifying for removal, using the control circuitry, selectedtones among the first number count of tones in the signaling fieldsequence for the first bandwidth.
 8. The method of claim 7, whereinidentifying for removal selected tones comprises identifying reservebits and identification information for removal.
 9. The method of claim8, wherein identifying reserve bits and identification information forremoval comprises identifying for removal Partial AssociationIdentification (PAID) bits used to identify a wireless station.
 10. Anapparatus for transmitting a wireless packet, the apparatus comprising:field generation circuitry configured to: generate a signaling fieldsequence including parameters for decoding the wireless packet for afirst bandwidth, wherein the signaling field sequence has a first numbercount of tones that is less than a number count of tones in a trainingfield sequence that includes channel estimation information; andgenerate a signaling field sequence for a second bandwidth, that is amultiple of the first bandwidth, by transmitting the signaling fieldsequence for the first bandwidth in each of a plurality of sub-bands,wherein generating the signaling field sequence for the second bandwidthcomprises generating a copy of the signaling field sequence for thefirst bandwidth, phase-rotating the copy of the signaling field sequenceand transmitting the phase-rotated copy of the signaling field sequencein each of the plurality of sub-bands; preamble generation circuitryconfigured to generate a preamble for a packet, wherein the preamblecomprises the training field sequence and the signaling field sequencefor the second bandwidth, and wherein the training field sequence forthe first bandwidth is scaled to have a same power per tone as thetraining field sequence for the second bandwidth; and transmit circuitryconfigured to transmit the preamble.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10,wherein the preamble generation circuitry is configured to cause tonesin the signaling field sequence for the second bandwidth, that is amultiple of the first bandwidth, to increase in number count from thefirst number count of tones to a second number count of tones that islarger than the first number count, by generating a copy of thesignaling field sequence for the first bandwidth, phase rotating thecopy of signaling field sequence and transmitting the phase-rotated copyof the signaling field sequence in each of the plurality of sub-bands.12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the field generation circuitry isconfigured to generate the first number count of tones in the signalingfield sequence to provide configuration parameters of the wirelesspacket.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the field generationcircuitry is configured to generate the second number count of tones inthe signaling field sequence for the second bandwidth such that thesecond number count of tones is equal to the number count of tones inthe training field sequence.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein thefield generation circuitry is configured to generate the second numbercount of tones in the signaling field sequence for the second bandwidthsuch that the second number count of tones is less than the number countof tones in the training field sequence.
 15. The apparatus of claim 12,wherein the field generation circuitry is configured to generate thesecond number count of tones in the signaling field sequence for thesecond bandwidth such that each tone in the signaling field sequence forthe second bandwidth has a corresponding tone among the number count oftones in the training field sequence.
 16. The apparatus of claim 10,wherein the field generation circuitry is further configured to identifyfor removal selected tones among the first number count of tones in thesignaling field sequence for the first bandwidth.
 17. The apparatus ofclaim 16, wherein the field generation circuitry is configured to selecttones for removal that comprise reserve bits and identificationinformation.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the field generationcircuitry is configured to select tones for removal that include PartialAssociation Identification (PAID) bits used to identify a wirelessstation.